Archive of Our Own

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Taeyong wraps up the trash from his and his mate’s dinner, styrofoam squeaking as it’s pushed down and tied up. He would have made him dinner himself but it’s the middle of the night and he’s sure their members are all dead asleep and tired from relentless schedules.

The year’s been busy and they’re not even halfway through. They’ve got much more coming up, specifically a group album, and he’s heard talk amongst the staff, speculation mostly, of a series of concerts with the entire NCT collective. Though, if the company pulled that off, he’s sure their czennies would be thrilled. Hell, he’s sure even his members would be thrilled, even if the concert lasted hours, given their extensive discography… He wonders what songs they’d all perform. Wonders how many hours in the practice room it’d take for everyone to remember their choreographies… He wonders if…

His heart shouldn’t react at the thought of him. He’s a bonded alpha. And yet…

He wonders if something’s wrong with him.

He turns off the harsh bright overhead light when he’s done cleaning, turns on the soft lamps—on his desk, in the corners of the room—lights his candles to dispel the reek of sex and get the bedroom smelling more like home. He doesn’t dare fix the bedsheets or pillows, all arranged into a nest in the middle of his bed.

He’s heard heats were all-consuming, narrowing an omega’s senses and thoughts down to a few select instincts. But his Johnny isn’t an ordinary omega. Johnny’s heats are sparsed by waves—hours of clarity and level-headedness, followed by hours of insatiable hunger. And Taeyong is breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

The alpha is idly tidying up the rest of their room when Johnny finally steps out of the shower. He feels his large hands slide up under his hoodie and sit on his ribcage before smoothing up over his pecs, and down his stomach appreciatively. Taeyong doesn’t go to the gym as often as his mate does, but Johnny’s satisfied with the muscle he finds anyway, if his pleased, engine-rumble purrs are anything to go by.

“How do you feel, princess?” He asks, even as his mate practically yanks the hoodie over his head, flinging it away.

Johnny’s full lips find their home on his neck, right over their bond mark, which has been lovingly renewed a good four times in the past (almost) three years they’ve been mates. “John?” He asks, goosebumps erupting over his skin as he mouths at the scar. His heat will break soon, but for now—

“Never better,” Johnny purrs in his mother tongue.

“Oh, good. Great. Awesome. That’s good, my darling,” Taeyong responds. Understanding english is easier than speaking it, most of the time. He doesn’t mind sounding silly though, if it means he gets to make his omega smile proudly. “You want water?”

“I want you,” Johnny murmurs huskily in his ear.

He’s promptly manhandled onto the nest occupying most of the bed and the feast continues, though they have the decency to at least muffle themselves. It ends the same way it always does between them, Johnny stretched out, face down, cheek squished into the sheets, Taeyong straddling his hips, knot locking them together, and a thousand tender kisses being pressed to his mate’s back, shoulders, neck, nose nuzzling into the top of his head, his soft hair. 

Johnny always smells like citrus. Some days it’s sweet, some days it’s sour, but in a good way. The kind that makes your mouth water. Taeyong loves it. Taeyong loves him… more than he can ever say or even begin to explain.

“I think that did it,” Johnny mumbles into the bed. 

Taeyong purrs, pleased, nuzzling his nose to the back of his ear, scenting him. “Yeah?”

“Mhm,” the omega pushes himself up onto his elbows, turns his head, puckers his lips.

Taeyong leans forward, careful not to shift his hips too much, and manages to press a quick kiss to the corner of his lips. Johnny grins, a pretty blush forming on his cheeks, and lays his head back down. He purrs when his mate’s thin bony fingers work themselves into the muscles of his shoulders, slow circles to soothe them out from the tensions of a heat cycle.

And when his knot finally allows them to separate, Johnny waits a moment for Taeyong to wipe them both clean with a cool bath cloth before cuddling his alpha in the middle of his nest.

Taeyong is a good alpha, if a bit “unorthodox” by most alpha standards, but it’s what made Johnny fall for him in the first place. He uses his status for the good of the pack, for the happiness of their packmates, every single one of them. And it’s not like there was a definitive moment where he knew he was in love with him, it was more like a slow dawning, like turning away from a pot of water to negotiate ramen packet instructions and turning back to find the water’s already boiling.

“I am so hungry…”

Taeyong snorts, soft, gentle from where his face is hidden away against his neck, but still blindly reaches for his phone somewhere in the blankets, “We just ate.” 

“Yongie, we just burnt all of those calories.”

“All of them?” He giggles.

Johnny presses his lips to his forehead with a growing smirk, “Every single one. Maybe I wouldn’t be starving if my alpha wasn’t so greedy.”

One of the reasons they work together so well, at least in Johnny’s opinion, is cause Taeyong’s always, always going along with the push and pull of his teasing, even if he’s flustered, he makes an effort to match his jokes and skits tit for tat. Sure, the other members do too. Mark and Jaehyun mostly, but it’s a bit different with Taeyong. It feels sincere, just like everything else he does. So, of course, he notices the small way that his mate freezes up for a millisecond, the way his dark eyes grow scared and wary all at once.

His alpha tries to play it off, finally finding his phone, rolling onto his back as he swipes away. “What are you craving, my love? More fried squid?”

And normally, Johnny would wait, slowly nudge his mate to open up when he’s ready to, when he’s gotten his thoughts in order, but heat cycles have this way of playing on his serious emotions, making them override his chill, cool guy persona.

He cuddles into Taeyong’s side, and rests a hand on his chest, making the alpha meet his eyes. “Yongie.”

“Mm?”

“Everything ok? I didn’t push you too hard, right? I know the suppressants the company gave you are like best of the best, but—”

Taeyong’s expression softens immediately, brows quirking up and boba eyes twinkling. He smiles, setting his phone aside to hold his hand, “Johnny, I’m fine. Skipping a rut won’t kill me.”

The omega arches a brow, clearly not believing a word from his lips.

Taeyong chuckles and pats his hand, “Really. I’m ok.”

“Then what’s on your mind?”

“What do you mean?”

“You made a face just now.”

“I have a face.”

Johnny rolls his eyes up towards the ceiling as Taeyong’s chuckle turns into a guffaw, the kind where his face scrunches up, the kind Jungwoo can imitate eerily well. “You know what I mean.”

“I… I know,” Taeyong murmurs, cupping his cheek with his free hand. He’s managed to chase away most of the worry from his eyes, now all Johnny sees is his reflection and love—trust. “I’m sorry.”

“What’s going on, Yongie?” Johnny asks.

“Well… I think…” Taeyong sighs, staring at their intertwined hands, his chest stutters, his face grows pink. His alpha is usually pink, but he’s noticeably pinker now like he’s giving Kirby a run for his money.

He hesitates and Johnny kisses his knuckles. “You can tell me anything, Taeyongie… So long as you don’t tell me you’re secretly having an affair, I’d really hate to tear you to pieces with my bare hands.”

It’s supposed to be a joke. Johnny knows his mate. Cheating is below them. But the way Taeyong cringes, lips twisting into a grimace, Johnny wonders briefly if maybe the joke was a bit much for his lionhearted alpha.

“I would never,” he murmurs resolutely, staring into his eyes as if to drive his point home. “You’re my mate, my partner… my best friend. I… Johnny, I feel so… I love you. You know I do. And hurting you is the last thing I ever want to do… I… I’m so confused, my love… I keep… thinking about him…”

“Him?”

The alpha’s hand grows clammy where it’s holding his and his eyes go away to stare holes into the wall. Johnny racks his brain, trying to narrow down the offending person from the information offered, but comes up blank. Though it’s not like there’s a million options. It has to be one of their pack members.

Taeyong sighs, “I… I just hate the way things ended, you know? It’s been years, but… I still…”

It’s just enough for Johnny to pin the tail right on the donkey. For some reason, he feels relief. Though, he knows any other omega would have chewed out their mate at such an admission, or worse.

“Do you still have feelings for him?” Johnny asks, long fingers brushing back a sweaty blue-tinted black fringe off a pink forehead. Feigning calm though he’s dying of curiosity. If Taeyong so much as senses anything out of the ordinary, he’ll never bring the topic up again for the next million years.

Taeyong’s eyes snap back to him then, but Johnny averts his gaze, focusing on his task.

“I… I’m not sure… I think… I think I need closure…”

“Yongie, it’s a yes or no question.”

“Johnnyyy,” Taeyong whines, almost petulantly.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Johnny, I—”

“I’ll talk to him,” he says, picking up his mate’s abandoned phone, navigating to the food delivery app. “Just to see where things stand. Then we’ll see about closure.”

“But, John— my love, I— I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. What about us? What about you?”

Johnny huffs, finally meeting his alpha’s teary eyes. He can’t imagine what he’s feeling, but he knows at least what’s going through his mind. Taeyong’s a good alpha, good to the core. He’s optimistic and tries to see the good in everything, but that also means he sees the harm in everyday things, in the stuff that most people brush off.

He leans up, presses a kiss to his forehead. Taeyong purrs, but his lashes are still wet. Johnny doesn’t have all the answers, or even a well-thought plan but he knows one thing for certain: love is never wrong and he loves Taeyong. And he knows Taeyong loves him.

“It’ll be ok. I’ll talk to him. Trust me, baby.”

Taeyong sighs shaky, finally calming down. “I trust you,” he murmurs into his knuckles, holding his hand up to nuzzle the skin reverently. 

Johnny purrs, “Fried squid and blood sausage sounds good, right?”

The alpha nods and then purrs when his omega leans his head on his chest. He won’t worry about anything and let his mate handle it.

Unfortunately for his sanity, Johnny forgets about the late Spring conversation and the topic isn’t brought up again until Autumn.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

Ten should've known. He should’ve known his break was going to be interrupted somehow. After WayV’s fan meeting tour, which lasted for the better part of the year, they finally had some time to just sit and relax and focus on nothing but whatever their hearts and hard-earned money desired.

In a week or two, the entirety of the group will begin recording and preparing for the next album, Golden Age. Which is why he wanted this week or two to be completely stress and company-free.

The universe must hate him, he thinks, watching messages ping and pile up on his phone screen. Louis, lounging on the dorm couch next to him, turns that deadpan gaze on the device and then up at him, as if to say, “Well, aren’t you going to pick it up?”

He sighs aloud and pauses the drama on the tv before setting his slice of pumpkin pie aside. Luckily, Leon and Levi are hidden away, probably in Yangyang’s room again, drinking from his fish tanks. He keeps telling that boy to get some proper lids for the tanks, but nooo, Ten-hyung, the fishies need air.

The first message is from Mr. Lee Taeyongie: “We need to talk, Tenie…”

Which would normally concern literally everyone else on the planet, but Ten’s known him for so long now. His hyung can worry about anything and everything. He’s sure it’s just to ask for help picking a gift for his mate, who also happens to be Ten’s best friend.

The next couple of messages are from said best friend. Johnny’s messages read, “Bestieeee <3 Are you busy <3 My heat broke <3 Come over <3”

More hearts than usual, but he did just finish his omegean cycle. Ten wouldn’t know anything about the effects or the mind-controlling pheromones, he’s a beta, after all. He is free of the nuisance of cycles.

“What’s got you smiling like that?”

Ten glances up. Kun strides into the kitchen, followed by Chenle. Their dongsaeng makes a beeline for the fridge as Kun grabs a pot from the cabinets.

“Nothing. Johnny texted me.”

Kun’s brows quirk up, a pout forming on his lips as he glances over at him, “I heard he was going through his cycle. How is he?”

“He’s fine, I’m sure. Taeyong-hyung was with him.”

At the mention of the pack alpha, Kun gives him a knowing look. Ten pretends not to notice, packing up his pumpkin pie. He’ll save the rest for later.

“He asked to see me too.” 

At this, the beta pair in the kitchen both look over at him with eerily matching expressions of interest. Kun and Chenle exchange a glance but resume their lunch preparations as the eldest speaks, “Did he say what for?”

“No,” Ten makes his way around them, placing his pie in the fridge alongside someone’s leftover spicy fried chicken box. 

Chenle reaches over his shoulder for it not a second later. “Hyung, can I ask you something?”

“About?”

“Our pack alp—”

“No.”

Chenle chuckles, popping open the microwave. Kun shakes his head, though Ten can see a small amused smirk on his lips as he watches the water on the stove.

“What happened between you two?” Chenle proceeds to ask. He has no shame, that one. Worse than Haechan in his own ways.

Ten shakes his head, walking off towards his room to change, “Nothing.”

Louis follows on his heels and he’s fairly certain he hears the duo whispering to each other in the kitchen, likely about his whole… situation.

He picks out some shorts and an oversized sweater. Nothing really happened between them. They worked together for Baby Don’t Stop, and got real close. He helped Taeyong through his rut at some point during those tight-packed schedules. They worked out really well… At least, Ten thought so. He’s a good leader, an even better lover.

They had to stop whenever WayV debuted, but they picked up the relationship again during SuperM as if nothing happened, as if they were never apart to begin with. It was exhilarating and fun and… it gave Ten hope, even if they never labeled what they shared together.

When he decided to chase his idol dreams, he swore to himself, that his career would be his priority, no relationships or flings of any sort, not that the idol path left any room for that. But… with Taeyong, it felt possible to have both: his career he’s worked so hard for, and a possible mate to share it all with.

They could be mates and be happy together and support each other and he would love him and care for him. Ten would have the honor of being Taeyong's one and only. And Taeyong would be his and his alone.

That didn’t happen though. The pandemic happened. And then his nearly year-long stay in China happened.

Before he knew it, Johnny was calling him, excitedly telling him of his and Taeyong’s new status as mates.

Time had eased his hopes and so he wasn’t heartbroken or depressed over the matter… If anything, he was pretty happy. Happy that Taeyong had ended up with someone that he knows would care and love him the way he’s supposed to be… The way he would have done.

And that was that. They never spoke of their short-lived fling again and Johnny never brought it up. All’s well that ends well.

Or so he thought…

As if on cue, Yangyang pops his head into his room, sniffling the air. Ten glances back from in front of the closet, smiles, but the young alpha frowns. “Hyung.”

“Not now, Yangyang… Just… not now.”

Yangyang’s frown deepens into a pout. Ten likes his privacy. He doesn’t want his persona around his pack to be dictated by every little emotional thing that affects him. Not because he doesn’t trust them or feels like a burden, no, some things are just not worth mentioning, especially if Ten will process and get over it before they can think of the words to comfort him. However, out of all their WayV members, their maknae is perhaps most privy to his personal life, to his emotions.

He goes proving that fact now, smiling shyly from behind the door, “Well, do you want to join me for lunch? Me and Renjun are going to our regular spot.”

Ten could kiss his forehead.

“Sure. Just let me change real quick.”

Yangyang grins, “We’ll be downstairs.”

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

The two baby alphas (though it feels wrong to call them babies only because of how assertive and kind they’ve both become, kind of like their pack alpha) chatter excitedly the entire way to the restaurant. Renjun smiled upon seeing him, didn’t ask questions or make faces. It’s not the first time Ten’s been alone with them and he likes to think they’d all have been good friends if they had happened to be the same age.

He lets them order and has just texted Johnny that he’ll be over later when he finally tunes into the conversation. They’ve been seated at a small booth. Yangyang opted to sit next to him on the inside and Renjun sat opposite them.

“It hasn’t been translated?” Yangyang asks, dipping a generous helping of lamb into their boiling pot.

Renjun shakes his head, glasses perched on his nose, cap on his head backwards, “Only by fans. Sometimes those are unreliable though. I'd feel better doing it myself. Plus, I think it could be fun.” He grins excitedly, speaking around a cheek full of bean sprouts, “I can illustrate the guidebook for us and we could even add in our own creatures and species!”

Yangyang smiles, nose scrunching up, “We could. But, uh, what would I do? I can’t draw like you.”

“You could write the entries for the book?”

“Bro, I haven’t written anything since school. And I think, for both our sanity, it’s better if it stayed that way,” the younger of the two giggles.

Renjun, however, just stares down at his sauce, brow pinched together. Ten can’t even begin to guess what they’re talking about. He knew his age would eventually catch up to him—he’s out of touch.

Yangyang gasps, “Doesn’t Mark-hyung write? We could ask him!”

Renjun just shakes his head, “Last time I showed him my fantasy creature drawings, I heard him praying for me in my sleep.”

Yangyang cackles at the same time Ten finally pulls apart his chopsticks. His dongsaengs notice and immediately pile his plate with veggies and lamb. He hums a thanks, and presses the end of his chopsticks into a slice of sweet potato that falls apart deliciously.

He just about cries… remembering how much Taeyong loves sweet potatoes…

God, he’s pathetic… He needs to bury those feelings as far down as he can. For all he knows, they’re probably just wanting to hang out. They’re all friends. Friends like to hang out and stuff. As Yangyang would say, everything is happy and fine.

“What are you two talking about?”

“Renjunie got hooked on this American board game, Dungeons and Dragons. But it hasn’t been translated to Korean or Mandarin officially so we were thinking about making our own translation. Just for us,” Yangyang smiles.

“You wanna play with us, hyung?” Renjun smiles, glasses all steamed up.

Ten nudges the lamb around his plate, until a sliver of it is wrapped around a piece of potato, “How do you play?”

“So, there’s the players and the dungeon master. Everyone makes their own character based on the species and types of fighters offered in the guide—” Renjun lists off on his fingers.

Yangyang cuts in excitedly, “Like you could be a half lizard half man bard. Or a dwarf wizard!”

“Aaah, like elves and stuff?” Ten asks.

“The possibilities are endless,” Renjun nods, chuckling. “You also give your character certain stats. Like how charismatic they are, or their wisdom or intelligence. And then, once your character is done, you play. The dungeon master makes a story, villains and heroes and people for you to meet. You roll one of those 20-sided dice for most things you want to do.”

“Sounds… complicated,” Ten murmurs.

Renjun shakes his head, and finally removes his glasses to clean them off, “Just at the start, hyung. It’s actually pretty fun once you’re in the groove.” He stands, “I’m gonna grab more of those seaweed knots. You guys want anything?”

“Can you get me a barley tea, please? And a milkis?” Yangyang smiles, pulling back the sleeves of his oversized hoodie that keep coming down every few minutes.

“Regular kind?”

“Yeah.”

“Hyung?”

Ten shakes his head and the small alpha walks off. Yangyang waits until he’s out of earshot to turn to him, “Hyung.”

“Yes, baby?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what you’re—”

Yangyang arches a brow, leveling him with a look that screams, “Really?”

“I’m fine,” Ten chuckles.

“You were literally a zombie up until like a few seconds ago… Is everything ok?”

Ten sighs, keeping his gaze on his plate, lowering his voice to a whisper, “Taeyong-hyung texted me earlier. He wants to talk to me. Johnny texted me too. Wants to see me.”

“Maybe they want to hang out?”

“They texted me at the same time… They never do that… It’s probably nothing, but… I feel bad.”

“Why?”

“Would you feel ok if you had a massive crush on your best friend’s mate?”

Yangyang cringes and pats his back, “It’s ok… It could be worse?”

Ten laughs humorlessly, “How?”

“Taeyong-hyung could be mates with Doyoung-hyung.”

His mind conjures up an image of their head alpha staring adoringly up at the tall bunny-faced beta, hand in hand. He can’t hold back a retch.

Yangyang laughs, nose scrunching up all cute.

When Renjun returns, he’s got their drinks and his veggies in his hands, but he’s also being tailed by yet another neo. Ten wonders why he accepted this lunch invite to begin with. “You never told me he was coming—”

“I didn’t know either,” Yangyang murmurs back.

“Yo! What's up? What’s up?”

Renjun takes his spot on the opposite side of the booth with a sigh, “Haechanie texted me and I was going to say no, but I forgot that he has my location.”

Donghyuck sidles up to him, grinning, “Hello! You guys don’t mind if I join y’all for lunch, right? I’m starving!”

“We don’t mind!” Yangyang smiles sweetly, a little twinkle coming into his eyes directed at the omega.

Ten could cry at how cute he is. His little dongsaeng has had a crush on Haechan for the past 3 years. Their schedules have interfered with any type of hanging out or dates, but Yangyang never passes up an opportunity to let Donghyuck know just how much he’s smitten by him.

Donghyuck, on the other hand, doesn’t quite know what to do with all that genuine love. He’s shy to return the alpha’s affection, which is honestly surprising given how much he loves loving on literally everyone else.

The conversation has moved on without him again.

“You’ve got bags,” Renjun says, eyeing Haechan as he dumps a platter of velvety red beef rolls into the spicy soup.

“I stayed up.”

“League again?” Renjun deadpans.

Donghyuck pokes at the floating meat, submerging it into the boiling soup. “No. Taeyong-hyung got me hooked on Apex.”

Ten drops his piece of frozen tofu too high, droplets of soup splashing at his hand. He curses under his breath and waves his hand frantically, to which Renjun chuckles, “You ok, hyung?”

Yangyang grins wide. His attention is solely on the omega, “Who do you main?”

Donghyuck notices, as he always does, but sniffles, pushing back a blush to smirk in that confident way he does, meeting Yangyang’s eyes for a split second, “Catalyst and Valkyrie are cool.”

“You’re so cool,” Yangyang chuckles. The alpha may have not noticed his slip-up, but Donghyuck certainly did, and he turns that mischievous gaze on him.

Ten meets his eyes, daring him to say anything about it.

The omega smiles innocently, “You know, Tenie-hyung, my hyungs were having a serious conversation this morning.”

“Really?” Ten replies, nonchalant. Though he’s wondering if it had to do with anything about him.

No, Ten, shove it down. It’s locked up. It does not affect you. You are… above it all.

Renjun’s brows quirk up, “Everything ok?”

Donghyuck nods, filling his mouth with beef. He takes his time chewing (just to get on his nerves, he’s sure) and then says, “Yeah, just bonded couple stuff.” 

Ten snorts, “And this interests me how?”

“Your name came up a couple of times,” Donghyuck says, looking over the menu on the tablet Renjun handed him. “Have you guys ordered the next round?”

Renjun shakes his head no, “Go ahead. Get more beef.”

Ten spots Yangyang making puppy eyes at him from the corner of his vision but ignores it for now.

“Hyung, you want more lamb?” Donghyuck asks, not meeting his eyes.

The dream babies are… a colorful bunch. Distinct personalities, all equally adorable, and all absolute gossip monsters. “No, thanks.” He’ll feign disinterest and let Haechanie do all the talking. He knows his curiosity is insatiable, especially where his favorite hyung is concerned.

Renjun stares pointedly with quirked brows at his friend, picking up on the gossip shark that’s currently circling the waters. Ten’s afloat for now, so long as he isn’t caught off-guard. Luckily for him, Haechan opts for a straightforward approach.

“Is it true you and Taeyong-hyung used to date back in the day?”

Both the alphas’ jaws fall, nearly hitting the table. Ten smiles, closing Yangyang’s mouth with a gentle finger, “Yeah.”

And Haechan, sensing no bad feelings, no blood in the water, turns docile, kind. Chaos evaporating into something akin to empathy as he distracts himself with dumping a whole plate of lamb into their pot. “What happened?”

“Nothing much. We got busy and broke up. That’s all.”

Yangyang’s still directing those puppy eyes at him and sneaks his hand into his, squeezing comfortingly. Ten can’t help his smile, squeezing back. Donghyuck half-stands, serving him more lamb.

“So you were together together?” Renjun asks this time.

And now they’re all staring at him with that curious little twinkle in their eyes. He bites back a smirk, feels this pressure in his chest loosening and simmering out. It feels… nice to talk about it. He didn’t talk to no one about the whole situation. Cause there was no one to talk to and by the time there was, it was old news already.

He cleans up his plate and murmurs a sort of when that simmering starts to cause another feeling to rise. A familiar stinging at the backs of his eyes. Guess he really was holding too much in.

He grabs his bag and his phone, sliding out of the booth. “Oh, Kun just texted me. I have to go. Renjunie, send me a picture of the bill. I’ll send you the money for my—”

“No, it’s ok, hyung. It’s my treat,” Renjun smiles, like the good little gentleman alpha he is.

Yangyang, though, just looks concerned and begins to follow him out of the booth. Ten shakes his head, leaning down to peck his cheek before he can swat him away. “It’s ok, Yangie. Enjoy your lunch.”

He waves goodbye to the trio and leaves the restaurant as fast as he can.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

He’s wondering if perhaps he left too hastily as he’s pulling up his face mask snug and lowering his cap to obscure his eyes. He doesn’t need to be spotted by a fan right now, marching along the sidewalk to… anywhere.

The tears never fall but his mind goes back to wondering.

The worst part, he supposes, is he can’t possibly imagine what they even want to discuss. The last time he spoke with Johnny was a while ago. He had just finished his heat and esem sent him straight to MC’ing for Dojaejung’s debut. Ten sent him some flowers and fruit and meat to keep his health up and Johnny had asked if he wanted to hang out, but they couldn’t settle on a date between all their schedules.

And now… he doesn’t know if the couple ever discussed him, if Taeyong told Johnny about what they shared before they became mates… He doesn’t know if his brain is just getting the better of him once again and just overthinking the whole situation. For all he knows, he’s probably not even a concern of theirs… but, he knows that probably couldn’t be true… What he and Taeyong had was special… right?

It felt special.

He’s lived in Korea for nearly half his life, and he still doesn’t know where most streets and alleyways lead, or how they connect. In his overthinking, he’s left the hot pot restaurant long behind. Before him is a park. Few people walk along the paths, an old woman pushes along a tiny stall, a warm nutty aroma following after her.

Despite it being August, the cooler temperatures have yet to affect them. Everyone’s still wearing comfy summer clothes and the trees are still green as first spring. Well, almost everyone is wearing thin clothes. A couple on a bench nearby are covered head to toe in black, and dressed as if they’re about to go hiking to the top of a snowy mountain.

One of them is leaning back against the bench and the other is clinging to their arm and nuzzling their face away against their neck. He assumes it’s just another alpha/omega couple, until he accidentally catches the eyes of the omega, who turns out not to be an omega, but a beta. And that’s got him stopping in his tracks completely.

“Oh, Doyoun—”

Then he thinks better of interrupting his friend’s obvious secret date, but he’s already caught the eyes of the alpha too, who happens to not be an alpha, but an omega. And a very familiar one at that too.

“Jae!”

Jaehyun grins, dimples in his cheeks appearing as he tips his cap to him. “Ten-hyung.”

Doyoung sits up, awkwardly shuffling away from the omega. His face looks so pink against his black cap and jacket, like strawberry soft top on coffee. Jaehyun scoots over, patting the empty spot between them. Ten sits, resting his bag on his lap.

They sit in silence for a moment. A breeze rustles the trees, some kids scream with glee a little further down the path, and an old man with a cane thunk… thunk… thunks across the way in front of them.

“I didn’t know you two were—” Ten begins to say.

“We’re not!” Doyoung hisses, looking at anything but them.

Ten glances at the youngest and Jaehyun smirks, “Not yet, anyway.”

Jaehyun is an omega. He’s one of seven omegas in the NCT pack. The others being: Sicheng, Mark, Dejun, Haechan, Jaemin, and, of course, Johnny. Then there’s the three alphas: their leader, Yangyang, and Renjun. And the rest of them are betas.

Jaehyun is unique because, whereas most omegas are expected to be soft, femme, and happy being courted, he’s happily breaking all those stereotypes. Not out of hatred for the norm, as evidenced by his close friendship with very femme, buff Johnny, but cause that’s just who he is. Courting a whole beta like Doyoung though, Ten feels his respect and admiration for his dongsaeng increasing by the minute. He’s not an easy catch, so to speak.

“You two make a good couple,” he says earnestly. Jaehyun smiles and Doyoung blushes once again and elbows his side.

“I don’t need to hear it from you.”

“What? I’m being honest, Doie,” Ten smiles until he feels a hand in his long frazzled blond hair.

Jaehyun’s stroking it neatly behind his head, “Doyoungie-hyung thinks I’m finally mature enough to properly court him.”

Ten snorts, “You’ve been mature enough for a good two years now. Why are you moving so slow, Doyoungie? You scared?”

“Oh, you’re one to talk,” Doyoung snaps back to which Jaehyun chuckles. “I’m not the one that—”

Jaehyun sits up, “Look, you guys want some?” He gestures across the expanse of grass to the opposite path where a stall has just set up shop. The 96 liners’ argument is stopped before it begins and they both nod slightly. The masc omega smiles and stands, leaning down only to accept the bills Ten offers and to kiss Doyoung on the forehead. “Don’t kill each other.”

Doyoung snorts, watching his boyfriend go. Ten feels his phone buzz in his hand but doesn’t bother looking at it, instead shoving it deep in his bag.

“It’s that bad, huh?” His same-age friend mumbles.

Ten sighs, “Do you know what Taeyong-hyung wants to talk to me about?”

If anyone knows, his best friend most definitely would.

Doyoung crosses his arms and leans back, “Why should I tell you?”

“So, you do know?”

“Don’t play mind checkers with me, Ten. It’s not my place to say anything. You’re just gonna have to find out from them yourself.”

“So, it is both of them that wanna talk to me?” Ten sighs, feeling his stomach swoop like he’s just been shoved off a cliff. “Fuck…”

Doyoung quirks a brow at him, “I thought you’d be happy.”

Ten shakes his head, adjusting his cap again, “I’m not happy meddling in my best friend’s relationship, thank you very much.”

Doyoung deadpans, “You’re acting like triads aren’t a thing.”

And then Ten has to look at him like he’s lost it. “I don’t have romantic feelings for Johnny and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have any for me either, which, last time I checked, is a requirement for those kinds of things.”

“You don’t have to have feelings for each other.”

Ten considers it for a moment. Him and Johnny sharing their pack alpha. It doesn’t sound… horrible. But it definitely sounds like something out of one of those risque dramas. He shakes his head, “Taeyong-hyung isn’t that kind of alpha.”

“He isn’t,” Doyoung nods, agreeing with him for once.

Jaehyun returns carrying two little paper trays, each holding a small serving of rice cake and sausage. He hands one to him and the other to his boyfriend. They dig in quietly, enjoying the quiet and peace. When they’re halfway through, Doyoung hands the rest of his plate to his boyfriend.

Ten manages fine. Still hungry from earlier and trying very hard not to let his thinking close up his stomach. The thought of forming a triad… never occurred to him… It isn’t the worst idea, but… It’s still a big commitment.

“I’m supposed to be enjoying my break,” he whines petulantly as Jaehyun takes their empty plates over to a trash can.

“Didn’t you talk to Taeyong? When you went to LA?” Doyoung grumbles at him.

“Didn’t get a chance to, really,” Ten shrugs, hugging himself as Jaehyun sits next to him again. “The kids had my attention most of the time. He was in one of his quiet moods anyway… Think he missed you guys.”

He senses more than sees the couple exchange a look over his head.

“Hyung.” Jaehyun wraps an arm around his shoulders, jostling him in that comforting bro manner. “We can’t tell you what to do or what not to do. We can’t tell you what exactly they want to talk to you about either, but, you know, Johnny loves you. He trusts you. With everything.”

The omega isn’t one to bear his feelings often. More of a listener than anything, but his words ground him, comfort him. And reminds him, once again, even if the conversation goes horribly wrong, he’ll have his packmates to lean on while he mends his broken heart. He doesn’t want to be apart from them ever again.

He smiles, butting their heads together affectionately. “Thanks, Jae.”

Jaehyun grins, “What are friends for?”

Doyoung removes his boyfriend’s arm from over his shoulders. “Ok, you’ve interrupted our date enough. Go.”

“So, this is a date?” Ten smirks.

He scampers off just as Doyoung starts cussing him out with words he didn’t even know existed.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

His confidence dies very quickly on the walk to the 127 dorm. And his feet have redirected him back to his old, reliable stress reliever: the SM practice rooms.

They’ve got a concert coming up and scheduled group and unit rehearsals, but it’s good to work on his stamina. He sets a playlist of his favorite choreographies on, connects his phone to the speakers, inhales deeply, exhales slow, and lets the music move him.

Sweat begins to drip and run down his sides when an hour passes. His thighs and calves begin to burn when he gets to two hours. His heart and lungs work harder, surging with adrenaline, to keep up, to keep his composure when he reaches the third hour.

Hour four and the playlist ends, he pants heavily, hands on his knees, sweater discarded nearby, sweat dripping down his form. He catches sight of himself in the mirror and can’t help a small chuckle at the haggard beta he sees, like he’s just run a marathon.

He’s stinky now, grimy, but all the anxiety has been vanquished. He sees Johnny and Taeyong in his mind’s eye, his best friend and his hyung, their leader, his best friend’s mate, and his lungs don’t stop working for once.

Things are going to be ok.

He smiles, runs a hand through his damp hair, “I’m gonna be ok.” He sighs, nods to himself, and grabs his phone.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

“Well, well, well, you finally decided to show up.”

“When the bestie calls,” Ten smiles, staring up at his giant of a best friend. They’ve been friends for so long now, friends ever since they only had one language in common.

Johnny crosses his arms, leans on the door jamb. He’s wearing a fluffy robe with no shirt in sight underneath and pajama shorts. “Yeah, well, I’m pretty sure I texted you at 9 in the morning. It’s like 3 am.”

“Well…” He stalls, gripping the strap of his bag, scuffing one of his shoes. Mind now plagued with the day’s events and feelings. His memory brings up a small fragment—of butterflies in his stomach and giddy adrenaline, receiving a text from the pack alpha in the middle of the night, inviting him over whenever the dorm was empty.

The SM overlords never forbade them from getting to know each other in the biblical sense (as Mark once so lovingly put it), and Taeyong always knew how to pull at his heartstrings.

Johnny’s smiling mysteriously now, like he was reading his thoughts, “Ten, do me a favor.”

Scram. Fuck off. Stay the hell away from—

“Breathe,” the omega rests a hand on his shoulder, squeezing comfortingly. “Relax… You look—”

“Like shit?”

“A little,” Johnny smiles kindly, brows quirking up. “We can have this talk some other time. When you’re fine and—”

Ten shakes his head, “If we don’t talk now, I’ll never want to speak again—” he catches the hurt in his best friend’s eyes and corrects himself—“I mean, about… this. Whatever it is.”

Johnny studies him for a moment and nods, taking his hand and leading him into the dorm. The soft lights are on, yellow and glowing like fireflies, and there’s an extra pair of slippers waiting for him.

They’re quiet in their path, past the kitchen, the living room, the hallway with closed doors, all till they come to the end. Taeyong’s room.

He hasn’t been invited to this new dorm yet. It’s bigger than the last, but still feels every bit of the same essence—the plants in the corners, the random collectibles on a tall shelf, and the familiar scent of pine needles and sweetness like hotteok permeating the space.

And there he is. As handsome as every time he sees him. Standing by his desk in an oversized hoodie and shorts, pouring out steaming dark tea into three little mugs.

He looks up, those boba eyes landing on him immediately and Ten feels his breath catch in his throat, and his heart race in his chest, like it does every time.

Johnny squeezes his shoulder with a tiny smile and Ten wonders if he imagined Taeyong freezing up too at the sight of him. He’s led to sit on the pack alpha’s bed, around a small circular bed table already set up with one of those tiny fake but realistic candles and a small plate of sweet bread—caneles, tiramisu, and brownies—all favorites of his and Johnny’s.

Taeyong comes and sits with them, serving out the tea, eyes downcast, but glancing at his mate nervously every few seconds. Behind the clear cornered-cat look though, he sees something else that should probably wrench a knife through his heart, but warms it instead: love—pure, unadulterated love—directed at Johnny.

Ten doesn’t know the extent of their relationship. What led Taeyong to find solace in the tall omega. But if they’ve stayed together this long without major hiccups on either end, if they decided to tie themselves together at the peak of their careers… he can only imagine the oceans of trust and respect and adoration between them.

Underneath Taeyong’s sweet pine scent lingers Johnny’s citrusy fresh one, and conjures in his mind an image of a forest with great, towering trees, and a picnic of refreshing foods in the middle, grounded. 

They’re complete.

What could they possibly want with him?

Again, Johnny seems to read his thoughts. “Ten.”

“Hm?”

“Well, there’s no easy way to put this… and Doyoungie told me he might have hinted at what we want to say… to you.” And Johnny’s looking at him with this emotion in his eyes he isn’t quite so used to seeing. Not quite crying. Not quite smiling either. Maybe nervous. Maybe worried.

Why?

He looks down, sips his tea, lets the smoky bitter flavor soothe him.

“Taeyongie… He—”

“I still have feelings for you,” the alpha finally speaks.

Were this a drama, he’d have dropped his tea, stared at Taeyong with tears in his eyes, but all he can remember is the pain of rejection from that dinner…

It was supposed to be a romantic dinner. An opportunity for them to plan their company-mandated breaks together. Only for Taeyong to break his heart. To admit his feelings for Johnny and his intentions to mate with him. And all for what?

“You told me we were through,” Ten says through gritted teeth. “You— You didn’t even give me an explanation or— Or an apology— Even though I… I would have given anything for you…”

Taeyong flinches and frowns, “I know… I’m sorry, Tenie. I… I’m still growing too… I didn’t have the words for… I didn’t mean to hurt you. That’s the last thing I wanted to do, but—”

“But you did. And now— Now you want to bring up old business and for what?”

“It’s not his fault,” Johnny cuts in.

Ten turns to his best friend. He knows him. He knows he’d never humiliate him, not like this. And, despite it all, he can’t muster up any ill feelings or anger towards him, not even if he took the love of his life from him.

“Did he put you up to this?”

“No, Ten, listen. When the pandemic happened, things were horrible. You remember. We were all locked inside. My heats were really bad that year. But Taeyongie helped… time and time again. Even though his back… and… The truth is… I got pregnant… and I… I was scared.

“We were at our peak… Our big break. I didn’t want to risk, you know, everything. And so, there was only one thing to do and Taeyong was there for me, the entire time,” Johnny smiles, holding the alpha’s hand. “I finally understood what you saw in him… So, don’t… don’t hold it against him. Part of this is my fault, for not talking with you either when things happened.”

The tall omega meets his eyes, and cups his cheek gently to swipe away the tears falling. “Tenie…”

“I’m such a bad best friend,” the beta cries, emotions completely reversed, gone from hurt and anger to worry and sorrow in less than a second. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What was I supposed to say? Hey, Ten, I just committed double homicide.”

“Twins?!”

Johnny laughs, with his whole body, like he always does. That scary look in his eyes gone. Ten leans up best he can to press his forehead to his when he leans down. Johnny purrs, nuzzling his head to his, and whispers, “I want to make this right… We… We were closer than this once… Don’t want things to be awkward and unresolved.”

“Johnny, there’s nothing—”

“Ten.”

He’s staring into his eyes now. And Ten remembers, this isn’t a person he can fool. This is Johnny. Sweet, thoughtful, perceptive Johnny.

The beta glances at Taeyong for a split-second and that’s all Johnny needs for an answer. He sees it clear as starlight—the longing and hope in Ten’s eyes.

“We could form a triad—”

Ten blushes and pulls away, shaking his head, “But triads are for—”

“We can give it a try,” Johnny holds his hand tight in his, doesn’t let him run off. “If it doesn’t work out, or doesn’t feel right, well, at least then we’ll know it wasn’t meant to be.”

He glances at Johnny and then at Taeyong, who’s remained quiet but is looking at him and his mate with the same wary but determined expression.

“This is what you want?” He asks the alpha.

Taeyong stares at him for a moment before he answers, “I’m willing to try…”

“Ten?” Johnny smiles softly.

“I… What if… I don’t want to ruin our friendship…”

“It can’t get any worse than it is now.”

Ten sighs hard. Johnny is also persistent and oh-so optimistic. How can he say no to him? 

“We should at least set some boundaries…”

Johnny grins wide, “I agree—” he lets go of his hand and brings up his phone, scrolling away to the notes app—“I have a few rules written down, but I don’t know. Maybe you guys have some suggestions. Though I don’t see how you could correct perfection.”

Ten chuckles until he feels the bed dip next to him. He doesn’t notice when Taeyong scoots around the table towards him. And when their eyes meet this time, instead of anguish and love, all he feels is annoyance. He feels like wiping that kicked puppy look off his face more than anything… but whether to use his hands or his lips, that’s where the small sliver of doubt lies.

The omega scoots closer too, cuddling up to him, presenting his screen to them, “See?”

Chapter Text

Johnny’s rules are simple. He’s the omega in the whole… relationship, so, of course, it’s his call. Any development or clashing that happens has to be talked about, or brought up at the very least. Kissing and hand-holding between him and Taeyong is fine, but if that leads to pillow talk, Johnny wants to be present. Everything else goes.

It’s just like a regular relationship, Ten supposes. Still. He can’t help but feel that he’s cheated fate somehow.

They came to their agreement about a week ago and since then, he’s been waking up to that sweet pine scent and Johnny’s much larger frame curled around him like he’s a teddy bear. Not much has changed besides that. They’re still preparing for an album release and a concert.

No one’s noticed yet at least. All of Ten’s staying over with them written off as sleepovers.

“Hyung.”

Ten looks up. Xiaojun’s plopped down next to him, back against the wall of the practice room. The entire pack is present and taking a break while the choreographers and film staff talk idly in the center of the room.

It’s been a nice day. The last time they were all gathered together like this was for Universe. And he wasn’t present then, but it’s nice to know things haven’t changed. Everyone’s still as cuddly as he remembers.

“Yes, Dejunie?”

Dejun smiles all wide like the proper fanboy he is and hugs onto his arm. “Why are you sitting here by yourself, hyung?”

“Maybe I was hiding from you,” Ten teases and delights in the mock offense that paints itself on Dejun’s features. “The couches are all taken up.”

He nods across the room where Jaehyun, Sicheng, and Jungwoo are huddled at one end of a couch, swiping on their phones and chatting, a smile passing between them occasionally. Next to them, Yuta, covered head to toe in black with his cap over his face, appears to be trying to nap. Kun is pressed into his side but has all his attention on Chenle, Renjun, and Jeno, next to him, smiling at their conversation.

Yuta usually doesn’t like being touched, especially when he’s trying to relish in a moment by himself so to see him unfazed by Kun’s presence makes that familiar curious itch jump in the back of his head. It’s something to interrogate and tease his same-age friend about later.

On the couch next to them, Johnny and Haechan seem to be teaming up on poor Doyoungie, teasing him about who knows what. Mark has his back to Haechan, talking animatedly with Yangyang. Surprise, surprise. What’s even more surprising is the sparkle in the Canadian’s eyes, the way he leans forward with every toothy-grin Yangyang offers.

Yangyang is handsome and cute. Lethal like a dual-edged sword. So maybe he shouldn’t be so surprised at the clear display of attraction on Mark’s part, but he wonders if Yangyang even realizes the effect he’s having on the older omega.

Next to them, Hendery and Jisung are talking with shy smiles and big gestures. Probably about their latest gaming night. Ten hears plenty of it through his wall. He never knew games could have people screeching like that. And Jaemin sits next to the maknae, snacking on a protein bar and smiling mysteriously every few seconds.

Their leader is gone out of the room. Or Ten thinks so until Dejun starts smiling all big beside him and staring up at something next to him with an adorable blush forming on his cheeks.

“Taeyong-hyung!” Dejun grins, stars in his eyes.

Taeyong smiles handsomely, confidently, in that cool, level-headed, strong head alpha way he does. Ten almost rolls his eyes. “You did so good today, Dejunie. You must have been practicing diligently, hm?”

Ten snorts and Dejun’s grin reaches his ears, standing to hug the alpha, “You noticed, hyung?”

“Of course,” Taeyong smiles, patting his back and then ruffling his hair lightly when he pulls away. “The managers are ordering food. Did you tell them what you want?”

“Ah, no! Wait!” Dejun runs off towards the group of managers headed to the door. “My food!”

Ten smiles a little, shaking his head. Taeyong takes Dejun’s spot, adjusting his little blanket cape as he sits.

“What do you want, Taeyong?”

“Tenie, we need to talk.”

“We already have.”

Taeyong deadpans, pulls his blanket tighter around himself. “Ten, I’m not your enemy.”

Ten snorts again, begins to get up but Taeyong’s hand finds its way to his wrist and he crumbles. The alpha pulls a dirty move, rubbing his thumb soothingly over his pulse, over the scent gland there. He’s reminded of their debut as a duo, all the performance anxiety getting cut in half just by Taeyong’s presence, his eyes, his smile.

“It feels so long ago…”

Taeyong quirks a brow, frowns all the same, “Tenie…”

“You broke my heart, you know?” He doesn’t meet his eyes. He’s afraid he’ll find that same torn, apologetic look. The same one he gave him during that dinner. “I thought… thought we had something special…”

“I’m sorry,” the alpha whispers, reluctantly letting go of his hand. “But you have to understand—”

“Oh, I do. I understand completely. Still. That doesn’t excuse— that didn't give you the right to throw everything we had away like that.”

“I fucked up,” Taeyong sighs, running a hand through his hair, brow furrowed with frustration, but Ten can tell it’s not directed at him at least. “I know what I did was wrong.”

“So why—”

“Tenie, I didn’t know what to do. I still had feelings for you. I always had feelings for you… from the start. But Johnny needed me… He still does. I love him… And I— I thought I was doing the right thing, cutting things off…” Taeyong inhales deeply, bringing his blanket up to cover half his face. His frizzy pink hair is in his eyes, but Ten can still see the tears being held at bay. “I thought… maybe if I was harsh enough, you’d move on, forget all about me. And if I was lucky, you’d hate me.”

Of course, he did. Ten has met many people, but no one quite as selfless as Taeyong. None as meticulous to make sure no ends up as hurt or damaged as he will. Even if he goes about it in his own stupid ways.

Ten touches his cheek gently, tucks a pink lock of hair behind a pinker ear. “You were wrong from the start… cause I could never hate you, Yongie… no matter what… Not even after that.”

Taeyong turns to him with wide eyes, brimming with tears. “Please forgive me, Tenie,” he huffs quietly, voice dripping with emotions. “I want— want to make it up to you.”

“I’ll think about it,” he smiles softly, teasingly, tucking more strands behind his ear. His fingers skim his cheek and Taeyong shudders, eyes fluttering shut for a second before they refocus, intent on his… lips? “You’re kind of warm, Yongie. Have you been having water?”

“I…” He gulps and shakes his head. “I have… I just… I’m really sorry, Tenie.” He’s leaning closer and Ten remembers literally all of their pack mates are on the other side of the room with a clear view of them. He presses a hand to his chest to hold him back.

“Yongie?”

The alpha is warm to the touch, sweat beading at his temples, and he realizes he can’t smell him at all when he notices the scent blockers stamped right over the glands on his neck. One over the other. That’s way too many. One should have been enough.

He’s panting softly now and scoots closer to press his face to his shoulder with a tiny rumble of a purr. “You’ve always smelled so nice, Tenie. Like rain.”

He comes to the same realization at the same time Johnny does, meeting his eyes across the room. The omega wastes no time alerting their manager, and the practice for the day is ended prematurely while the company decides what to do.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

A few hours after the dance practice, they’re summoned to one of the many esem offices. Familiar ones at least, where paperwork and discussions of cycle leaves occur.

Johnny and Taeyong are waiting for him right outside and both smile as he approaches before they all step into the office. It’s not small, and feels more like some kind of cozy therapy room than a proper office, but Ten thinks it’s a good thing.

The woman at the desk is typing away on her sleek white computer on top of an even sleeker beige wood desk. “One second, please! Make yourselves at home,” she hums, keyboard clacking coming a little faster.

Johnny takes a seat in front of the desk. Taeyong’s eyes go round the room, searching. He’s still wearing that ridiculous little blanket cape. He strides off to grab a small cushioned stool from beside some bean bag seats and places it next to Johnny’s. They look at him expectantly and he sighs softly, taking up the seat next to his best friend.

The little gold plaque on the desk reads Kwon Jeung-Eun. Beside it are a few family pictures—her wife, kids, and dog. Her bond mark is visible, peeking over the collar of her white button down, a deep orange crescent the color of autumn flowers.

It looks fresh to Ten, but he hasn’t researched much about bond marks and the way they look over time. Though he knows many couples make it a point to renew their mark every seven years, for romantic purposes as well as re-strengthening the bond.

There’s a clock ticking on the wall and soft music playing from her computer. Ten shifts in his seat, wanting to get the conversation over with. The sooner they figure out what to do, the sooner they can get back to preparing for the concert.

Johnny must sense his impatience cause he reaches over, rests his hand on his thigh, palm up. Ten glances down and slots his hand over his larger one. The omega smiles and squeezes it lightly.

Miss Kwon finally scoots away from her computer with a sigh and turns to face them, neat black bob tucked behind ears adorned with silver cuffs. She smiles, until her eyes land on him, “Oh, you’re new.”

She turns her gaze back to Johnny with a quirked brow and Ten instantly likes her even more, all too used to staff and managers expecting the alpha to provide answers and make decisions. Johnny just smiles back, squeezes his hand again, “This is our group mate, Ten. We’re trying out… something new.”

Ten interlaces his fingers with his, comforted by his presence and by his words. That’s exactly what this relationship is.

Miss Kwon takes it in stride, smile returning to her lips, “Well! Nice to meet you, Mr. Ten. I was wondering why your file was sent to me.” She pets the top of the monitor and smiles at all of them, meeting each of their eyes in turn. “So, Mr. Lee Taeyong, you took your first three leaves, you are, of course, entitled to take your fourth and final leave for this year; however, the group activities will be continuing without you, since Mr. Suh has no more leaves to spare for this year.”

Ten blinks. A few times. Everyone in the country gets cycle leave, but he doesn’t understand much of how they’re doled out and the circumstances and whatever. It’s as mundane as taxes. He pays them, but he doesn’t know much past that…

Taeyong scoots forward on his tiny stool, so tiny that his chin just barely peeks over the top of the desk. “In that case, can’t I just suppress my cycle for this—?”

“Hell no,” Johnny cuts in. “You just suppressed your last cycle. Do you know what happens to alphas that suppress their ruts? Think about your health, Yong, please.”

Miss Kwon shuffles a few papers, now pointedly not looking at any of them, “Mr. Lee could get snipped.”

“You want to take his balls?!”

Ten snorts and laughs as Taeyong sputters, all shades of pretty pink and red, “Johnny—! That is not what that is!”

Miss Kwon, used to Johnny’s antics, just keeps on smiling, “It is a minor operation. Completely safe and reversible. It would be the healthiest option as the operation has shown proof of lessening the intensity of cycles.”

“Yeah and then what happens when he can’t pop a knot?”

Johnny isn’t wearing scent blockers so Ten can smell the possessiveness creeping in, that citrus scent getting stronger as if there’s an orange tree growing right in the middle of the room. Miss Kwon makes no comment on it, but also stops looking at Taeyong, and Ten deduces she’s an omega as well. 

Omegas are just as territorial as alphas, in their own more intelligent and nuanced ways. Alphas will just scent or physically lay claim on whoever they like. Omegas scent who they like too, but when they’re in the middle of cycles or nearing one, the scent becomes more potent, delivering discrete messages to every other omega and child-bearing beta the marked person comes in contact with.

Ten’s witnessed it a couple of times at the dorms. When Mark was a teen and figuring himself out and learning his new dynamic with the pack and the effects of his developing grown omega scent, he was all over everyone, sending mixed signals through his scent alone. It almost caused a few fights, but Johnny, as the most experienced omega, and Taeyong, as their pack alpha, always managed to rein everyone in. 

Huh… The memory is cast in a different light now. And he smiles, seeing how far they’ve come. He’s still sad, a little, barely, but he’s happy for Johnny. He deserved nothing less than an alpha like Taeyong.

Speaking of, the alpha has his face buried in his hands, but the tips of his ears are red like beacons. Miss Kwon and Johnny are arguing about knots and sperm counts aaaaaand maybe he should do some damage control and actually try to be a good partner here.

“Um, Miss Kwon, I still have my leave,” he says, pointing at himself tentatively. “Is it possible to… pass it to Johnny-hyung? Or something?”

Johnny shakes his head, squeezing his hand, face kind, voice gentle, a 180 from how he was just near-arguing with Miss Kwon, “Leaves don’t really work like that.”

“But there must be something we can do, right?” Ten asks, rubbing the tall omega’s arm, letting his own scent flow freely, leaving traces on his best friend’s hoodie.

Miss Kwon hums, leans back in her cushy seat. “The problem is that the three of you are in the middle of a tight schedule. If it weren’t for your activities, it’d be easy to get a doctor’s note and grant Mr. Suh and Mr. Lee rut leave.”

“But, they’re mated. How can you make them be apart for a cycle?”

“Mr. Ten, omegas and alphas have their plasmas tested at the beginning of every year by professionals to determine when their cycles will occur. As a rule, most people experience a rut or a heat at least four times a year, every two months, you know this, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“My job is to take those reports and best decide how and when to fit your cycle leaves in your busy schedules.”

“Best for the company, right? Not us.” Taeyong mumbles.

Johnny doesn’t say anything but Ten can’t help glancing over at the alpha. His brow is furrowed and his dark eyes are glaring daggers into the desk. It must be his rut getting to him.

Miss Kwon smiles, though this time it feels cold, “I’m just the messenger, Mr. Lee. But, Mr. Ten, there is a way to work this all out; however, it would mean freezing the rest of your group’s schedule for the time being.” 

“How?” Johnny asks.

“Company policy mandates that if one or two members of a group are unable to participate in schedules, the work must continue without them. Any more than two members and…”

“Oh.” One of them says, though they’re not sure who.

“Mr. Ten, your leave is scheduled for the fourth quarter, which we are currently in. You are allowed to take your leave at any time during this quarter. And if this new triad is official, or you all have plans to make it official—” she meets their eyes one by one, twirling a pen between her fingers—“then I can fill out the appropriate paperwork and the three of you may take your leave. Your coming concerts and schedules will be postponed. The company will handle everything.”

That would be the best option, Ten thinks, and turns his head to find Johnny and Taeyong already looking at him, not expectantly, not earnestly, just…

They’re at a precipice now. Do they jump in or fall out?

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

“Hey.”

Ten looks up from his suitcase, setting extra pairs of boxers and briefs inside along with a couple of swim trunks.

Kun’s standing in the doorway, holding up a bottle of wine and two glasses. He smiles, wiggles the bottle enticingly, not that he needed to. The black label is all too familiar—one of their favorites that they splurge on occasionally.

Ten goes back to his closet, picking out a few sweaters, shorts, long sleeves. Kun closes the door, settles on his bed, a mere few inches from where he’s packing. He pours out two glasses and sits the bottle on the headboard shelf.

“Where are the kids?” He asks, busying himself with organizing his clothes so it all actually fits.

“Watching a movie,” Kun hums into his glass, resting against the wall.

“All of them?”

Kun nods and sits up to tuck a pillow behind his back. Just like the old man he is. He catches him smiling and whines, “What?”

“Old man,” Ten says around a chuckle.

His friend just rolls his eyes and passes him his glass when he’s done tucking his clothes in alongside his shoes and other necessities. Ten takes a sip and purrs, feeling the lethargic effect just at the taste, muscles relaxing and tension ebbing off his frame. “So where are you going?”

“Definitely not to a magician retreat like you.”

“I’m going to make your phone disappear and you’re never going to find it,” Kun threatens with a smug smirk.

“What are you gonna do? Shove it up your ass?”

Kun gapes and then laughs, swatting a hand at him. Ten grins proudly, setting his glass aside on his wardrobe to close and sit on his suitcase. “Help me.”

The older beta reaches over, pulling the zipper closed halfway around, just enough for Ten to be able to pull the rest of it closed.

“Thanks.” He rolls it over in front of the door and returns to the bed with his glass. “We’re going to a cabin on some mountain.”

Kun arches a brow but says nothing, taking yet another sip of his wine.

“There’s fields at the bottom and a river. And a boat that’ll take you along for a ride if you want. I checked the weather though and it’s snowing, so probably won’t be spending too much time outside.”

“Sounds nice. It’s here?”

“Yeah, not leaving the country. Can’t take an alpha in rut through an airport, especially not one that has his face plastered all over the city.”

Kun hums in agreement, “Is it that one you showed me? The one you were planning to go to for motivation for your solo album?”

Ten downs half his glass, “Yup.”

Kun tops him off, doesn’t hide the surprise on his face. “So, the rumors are true.”

“What rumors?” Ten snorts, leaning his head on his shoulder.

Kun rests his cheek on the top of his head, “That you and Johnny-hyung and Taeyong-hyung are in… kahoots.”

“Woooow,” he snarks. “Are you 15 or 30?”

“I didn’t think you were into Johnny-hyung like that, Ten-Ten.”

“I’m not!” Ten sighs, staring down at his reflection in his glass, swirling the mulberry liquid round and round. “I do love him, but not like that. And anyway, where’d you hear these rumors from?”

“I overheard the dreamies. Then I asked Yuta-hyung about it.”

Ten doesn’t say anything, just arches a brow. They’ve lived together long enough that Kun knows exactly where he’s going. He feels him shift and the top of his head is suddenly warm. Ten can only imagine how hard he’s blushing.

“You mean your Yuta-oppa?”

“No one calls him that but Mark and Jungwoo.”

“What do you call him then?”

Kun sits up, reaches for the bottle. Ten watches his hands tremble, the pink has climbed up his face and settled at his ears. “We’re just talking…”

Ten pulls away to meet his eyes but Kun’s staring up at the ceiling, “Doesn’t look like just talking.”

“Ok, ok, maybe not just talking, but don’t say anything. We’re taking it slow. He likes his privacy, you know?” Kun’s swirling his wine around now, cheeks still adorably pink.

“What’s he like? I can’t imagine Yuta-hyung in a relationship.”

“He’s—” he pauses for a moment, voice hesitating like he’s got a myriad of words ready to just spill from his tongue, but he settles on—“sweet, charming, and kind.”

Ten hums, trying to imagine what they’d even look like on a date… They probably go sky-diving or bungee jumping. Kun’s a notorious adrenaline addict, simple as he can be sometimes. And everyone knows about Yuta’s rock album that keeps getting shut down or sanitized by esem.

When he puts it like that, the duo seem perfect for each other.

“I never took you for the triad type.”

“Huh? What? Why?”

“You don’t like sharing,” Kun snorts, which makes Ten gasp, offended.

“I can share.”

Kun chuckles, “Well, you can share sometimes, but you’re possessive as hell, Ten.”

“I am not—”

“You know why Yangyang attaches himself to your hip every time we’re out? Even when we’re home?”

Ten grins, “Cause I’m pretty and a delight to be around.”

Kun rolls his eyes, “The jury’s still out on that one.”

“Then why do you think he does?”

“Because you cling to him so much. Everywhere we go, during schedules too. Ever since we met him.”

Ten shakes his head, though he feels his heart warm, thinking of Yangyang and the years they’ve spent working and living together. Dejun and Hendery too. They’ve overcome challenges and bullshit, and they’re closer for it. An actual family. “He’s a baby alpha. A cute baby alpha, I was protecting him.”

“M-hmmm,” Kun smiles into his glass. This time, Ten reaches for the bottle and serves him more.

“Gotta protect you too,” he groans, slowly rising off the bed after meting out the last of the wine between their glasses. “You can be a bit of an airhead sometimes, Kun-Kun.” He senses more than sees Kun’s smile softening into endearment, and pretends to consider saving the bottle to paint on or put away for the recycle bin, back to him.

“And who’s the one protecting you?”

Ten smirks, sitting at his desk, nursing his half full wine glass between characteristically cold hands, “I can handle myself.”

“So I don’t have to worry about you this week you’ll be away?”

“Why would you need to worry?”

Kun crosses his legs, sets aside his empty glass, and leans forward, hugging another pillow. His cheeks are still pink, but for alcohol related reasons now. “Ok, this is all just guess work, but tell me if I’m wrong. Taeyong-hyung didn’t want to take his rut leave because he doesn’t want to miss out on our concert and Johnny-hyung doesn’t have any more heat leaves so he can’t be there for his mate. So you offered your yearly leave, but, in exchange, the company is gonna be expecting to see you all mated when you get back. And if you back out and don’t get bonded, they’re not going to let you be part of Johnny and Taeyong’s decisions anymore.”

Of course, Kun would be familiar with their company’s policies and rules and inner workings, still— “How the fuck did you get all that from guess work?”

Kun grins so hard, his dimples appear, “It’s happened before. 2020 for our BeyondLive concert.”

And just like that, Ten’s transported back to those days. Johnny and Taeyong definitely weren’t dating yet. He knows because Taeyong was still being sweet to him. He remembers offering to miss the concert too, help him through his rut and his back injury, and Taeyong had declined, of course, but not before they got a few kisses in.

“You’re not susceptible to peer pressure, but they’re both people you love, and I know how you are with people you care about… I know they’re not those kinds of people, but I don’t want you to be rushed into a relationship like that, especially such a unique one that takes time to figure out and cultivate… you know?”

“I know…”

They sit in silence for a moment, the sound of the kids laughing in the living room reaching them through the door. Ten sets aside his glass, brushes off his sweats, “I should get some sleep. Driver gets here early.”

Kun slides off the bed, “Ten.”

“Hm?”

The older beta crosses the room to hug him. Ten rests his chin on his shoulder, sighs at his scent of coffee beans, that warmth that evokes scenes of cozy bakeries and fresh pastries. If idols only had their scents to rely on, Kun would be up there with Taemin and Kai. Ten would be fighting for attention with his moderate one.

“Whatever you decide to do, whatever happens, we’re all here for you… Johnny and Taeyong are good people too… Just… don’t stress too much, okay? Enjoy your break.”

Ten hides his smile in his shoulder, patting his back a few times, “Thank you, brother.”

Kun laughs in his ear.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

The car comes by at 5 in the morning. Yangyang, half asleep and wandering into the kitchen for water, catches him right before and envelops him in a hug, scenting him excessively, rubbing his face to his and his shoulders. Ten’s warm all over, waiting on the sidewalk in the dark of morning.

Taeyong’s in the passenger seat, covered head to toe with a beanie, scarf, thick jacket. Johnny helps him with his suitcase and they doze off in the backseat, leaning on each other the whole way. Not a word passing between them.

Not until they arrive at the cabin a few hours later at 8.

Betas may only get a meager one leave a year, but the expenses are covered completely by their company, and esem, as much as they fumble promotions for their artists, isn’t short on cash. The cabin sits on a small outcrop of a snowy mountain, with one bedroom with a king-sized bed, two bathrooms, a hot tub on the deck outside overlooking the valley below and the river, and industry grade kitchen fixtures and appliances. 

Ten was planning to come by himself after their Golden Age schedules, and, setting his suitcase in the middle of the spacious, cozy living room, smiles a little, proud of his find.

“The fridge is loaded!” Johnny exclaims, having immediately gravitated to the double-door refrigerator. Ten joins his side, shows him the hidden freezer under the counter beside it, also fully stocked with meats and vegetables. “Wah! This place is insane, Tenie!”

The tall omega ruffles his hair with a grin and then turns away to face their alpha partner, who’s gathering up their bags and shuffling them away towards the bedroom down the hall. “Yongie baby, what you want for dinner tonight? I can grill us some steak.”

Taeyong’s voice comes muffled from under the layers of winter clothes, “Whatever you two want, love. I’m gonna unpack and shower.”

“Ok,” Johnny purrs, watching him go.

Ten quirks a brow at the omega’s nonchalant attitude. The last rut he spent with Taeyong, they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other even if they wanted to. Now, it’s like he’s suffering nothing more than a fever. 

He waits for the door to close down the hallway. “Hyung, is he ok?”

“Sort of,” Johnny chuckles a little, though humorlessly. He sits at one end of the island counter, face cast in shadows. They haven’t bothered turning on any lights, relying only on the daylight that comes from the floor to ceiling wall of glass opposite the kitchen. The sun has risen behind the clouds, so the morning is bright grey.

Ten finds the light switches, flicks them all till only the little yellow bar ones over the counter are on. And now he can see the sweat beading at Johnny’s temples, clinging to his brows, and the scent blocker sticker on his neck.

“You’re in heat?!”

Johnny shakes his head, gesturing to the fridge. Ten goes and returns with a tea, which the omega gratefully presses to his neck. “It’s his rut, affecting me… feel it in my bones, man. It’s stronger than usual… We can’t smell it cause of his blockers, but I can feel it through our bond. He’s holding back, but I can feel it.”

“Wha— Why? We’re here now. We can—”

“He’s scared, Ten. This is new for all of us…”

Ten frowns, “But we’re not strangers.”

Johnny nods and shakes his head, this annoyed little twinge coming into his brows that softens into endearment, his lips curve into a smile, “I tried explaining that to him last night, but he’s worried we’re just gonna end up fighting for him or something. I don’t know.”

“So… what do we do?”

“We should talk to him before his rut gets worse and he goes non-verbal,” Johnny begins to get up before Ten sets a hand on his forearm. “What?”

“Can I see your bond mark, hyung?”

He assumed Johnny was just always good at using makeup, never once seeing the bite on his neck, but now, he’s wondering if perhaps Taeyong placed it lower or behind his neck. And perhaps a tiny part of him is dying with curiosity to know where he’ll receive his if everything works out.

“I haven’t shown it to you before?” Johnny grins.

Ten shakes his head and watches expectantly for him to shed off his jacket or pull his shirt over his head. Instead, the tall omega hikes up one side of his black shorts, revealing a muscled thigh, but on the inside, where the flesh is smoother, plush. There, mere centimeters from his groin, a scar in the shape of Taeyong’s teeth.

Johnny laughs at his reddening face, “What’s that look for?”

“I— Wow.”

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “It’s easier to hide this way.”

Ten blushes, “Did you— Does he—”

Johnny gestures to the back of his neck and gets up, “Taeyongie’s still an alpha. He would tell the whole world about us if he could. He’ll want you to bite his neck, for sure.” The omega moves to put the tea back in the fridge when he feels a tug on the back of his jacket. Only to turn and find Ten standing directly behind, looking like a kicked puppy. “Hm?”

“Things aren’t gonna change between us… right?” Ten meets his eyes, dams threatening to break behind them.

“Ten,” Johnny smiles a little, blinking back the stinging at the sight of his best friend near tears. He holds the back of his head, leans down to press their foreheads together. “I love you. My love for you isn’t lesser than Taeyong’s love for you. We don’t have romantic feelings for each other, and we might never get involved like that, but that doesn’t mean the love we share now isn’t as real, or as strong, or whatever.”

Ten sniffles and hugs him tight, burying his face away against his chest, which just gets Johnny to purring, squeezing and massaging his neck. “You get me?”

“Y-Yeah, I love you too, bro,” the beta murmurs, purring too.

Johnny butts their foreheads together again when he pulls away, “I’d be honored to be platonic mates with you.”

Ten wipes his nose, face pink and chuckles, “So would I.”

“Come on. Let’s go take care of our alpha.”

Ten grins, holding onto Johnny’s waist as they make their way down the hall.

⋆⋅☼⋅⋆

It takes some coaxing. Taeyong barricades himself in the bathroom, pine scent overpowering and spilling from the crevices of the door. Anyone that ever said betas can’t and aren’t as affected by alpha/omega pheromones was lying out of their ass, just standing there, he keeps drooling and his sweats are starting to get uncomfortable, too tight and itchy on his skin.

Johnny removes his scent blocker and, somehow, Taeyong’s scent just gets headier, more intoxicating, as if his gland was pressed right to their noses. The alpha growls something from the other side about not wanting to hurt them, not wanting to fuck them like they don’t matter, but they convince him eventually, though it takes a lot of whining on their part.

Johnny moans long and low, on his knees, getting pushed up the bed, slowly, steadily. His herculean thighs tremble, his back arches, his brown bangs stick to his forehead. When his mouth falls open again, Taeyong quickly kisses the moan from his lips, pulling him back towards him, arching his back even further. 

The muffled whines send electricity running up and down Ten’s body, his toes curl into the sheets, he presses his thighs closed, shifting to get some pleasure, lying on the bed next to them. He was worried it’d be awkward, watching, or being watched, by his best friend, but how can he even think about shame or embarrassment when Taeyong seems dead set on devouring them both.

Behind his omega mate, Taeyong sits up like a masterpiece, like moving art. Veiny hands on Johnny’s ass, kneading, pulling the generous cheeks apart. His abdomen flexing with every thrust, hips angled to get in deeper, to brush against that special bundle of nerves with each slick slide against his walls. Taeyong breathes deeply, pacing himself despite his alpha instincts clouding his higher thinking, brow furrowed, touched with sweat, and the passion in his eyes. Ten presses his thighs together tighter, crosses his knees, his legs, face down next to Johnny in the middle of their bed.

The omega had the sense to bring some toys along and they did not go unnoticed by the alpha. Taeyong notices him staring, reaches over to grab the vibrator currently stuffing him, keeping him spread, open, pliant, and thrusts it slow, forceful, matching the pace he sets with his hips. Ten squeaks, tries to bite back a high moan, but Johnny, in his haze, intertwines their hands together, brings his knuckles to his lips, kissing them gently.

And love like pleasure erupts from the seams of his soul, his heart. He presses close again, and leans up kissing Taeyong like it’s the last time he’ll ever be able to, their tongues slipping together erotically, driving their pleasure even higher, whimpering against the other’s lips. The alpha growls, purrs like a monster truck, loud, confident, unabashed, meeting him halfway though his body never stops moving.

Taeyong groans, voice so low, reverberating and reaching their cores, stoking the flames under their skin. Johnny shifts, raising his hips higher, sticky rivulets of slick running down the inside of his thighs, before moving to meet Taeyong’s thrusts, his ass slapping against his groin lewdly. The alpha refocuses his attention on his omega, holding his waist, repositioning so he’s crouching just over Johnny, allowing him even deeper than before, teasing his rim with his everpresent knot.

Johnny’s mouth falls open around a silent moan, his free hand holding onto the pillow under his chin like it’s a lifeline, a tether keeping him in this realm. Ten shuffles closer, leaning up on his knees to trail kisses from Taeyong’s jaw, down his shoulder, suckling pink marks, kissing the sensitive spots right after, sweaty tang on the tip of his tongue. The alpha purrs his name, hips stuttering, hands no doubt leaving bruises on the omega’s hips. And Johnny makes such sweet sounds, tiny and cute, as an orgasm rips through his body, eyes rolling into the back of his head, and Taeyong’s balls deep, rolling his hips in slow circles, grinding him through the aftershocks.

Ten kisses the tip of Johnny’s nose as he finally manages words, reaching back with trembling fingers to try to still Taeyong, “Fuck, f-fuck!”

Taeyong pulls out, stroking himself over the condom, hissing softly and Ten can see he’s cum too. And Ten begins to remember the bonuses that come with having an alpha mate like Taeyong. He can go a few rounds, he’s big, and incredibly attentive. Ten can’t help but feel a certain type of way, watching him remove the condom, tying it up, set it aside before leaning down, pressing adoring kisses to both of Johnny’s plump ass cheeks.

Then his dark eyes meet his and Ten can’t help blushing, cuddling closer to Johnny, turning onto his side so that his spent omega mate can watch him get wrecked yet again. Taeyong’s rut is becoming a treat for them, and they intend to enjoy it to the fullest.

Taeyong crawls onto the bed after him, fitting between his legs, raising one to rest over his shoulder. He runs his hands down his shin, his thigh, skin warm and slick with sweat and oil. They’d started with a full body massage and only managed to get their shoulders and calves done before the alpha’s pheromones, potent and arousing, got to them.

Expert, delicate hands draw the vibrator slow, easing it out of him, lube dribbling after it, down his cheeks. Taeyong curses under his breath, presses a kiss to his leg, before grabbing his cock, slowly leading it to fill the void Ten feels so strongly. They both groan at the first press. And it’s like the miles and the heartbreak and the hesitation never existed, they’re back together, fit like puzzle pieces.

Taeyong takes his time, easing in, huffing at the heat, the intense warmth of Ten’s walls, sucking him in. Johnny isn’t particularly fond of the extra cleaning up (and also cause of the past pregnancy scare), but Ten never feels more satisfied than when they do it raw. Mess be damned. And if he gets a pup with Taeyong’s features out of it, he’d do it over and over again. Where Johnny experiences his best highs with a slow, hard pace, Ten likes it as rough as possible. That must be why their friendship works so well.

Ten feels Taeyong’s groin against his, feels his knot spreading him wide, looks down to see his stomach just barely bulging, feels him so deep, he’d swear it’s hitting the back of his throat. And Taeyong, despite the way the muscles along his body are trembling with self-restraint (still!), the way his eyes are growing hazy, beads of sweat traveling down his sculpted body, doesn’t move an inch, letting Ten adjust to the feeling, leaning down, folding him in half, pressing a completely adoring kiss to his jaw. Ten can’t help himself, crying sweetly, squirting on his stomach at the tenderness of his touch, mostly in anticipation of what’s about to come.

Johnny smiles lazily, reaching over to swipe his thumb over his lips. Ten opens up willingly, letting his tongue loll out, staring at them both from under his lashes. “Yongie, kiss him for us, please.”

Ten makes a small noise that gets devoured by Taeyong’s possessive mouth. His brain short-circuits, his body acts on its own, arching up towards him, his hands get tangled in his pink and blue hair, and Taeyong begins, arms planted on either side of him, fucking into him without abandon, as if possessed.

He doesn’t know the sounds he makes, just knows he might die happily impaled on Taeyong’s heavenly dick. Taeyong’s lips are on his neck, Johnny’s lips are on his cheek, the top of his head, the alpha’s hands are on his chest, his thighs, tweaking his nipples, hard and more than sensitive.

“Harder,” Johnny murmurs, just outside his sphere of pleasure, before Ten almost blacks out. Taeyong’s fingers flex in his hair, grabbing a handful, pulling his head back. He cries and spasms, a second orgasm ripped out of him, wetting his stomach and the sheets again.

Taeyong pulls him back onto his cock with every stroke, grunting with effort, moving his hips faster, thrusting with more force than before. Ten doesn’t last long before it’s too many times that his special bundle of nerves has been fucked against. He cums with his name on his lips, a garbled high sound. He locks up and it’s enough for Taeyong to come undone, only holding himself back to ask permission, voice deep, wavering, “W-Where, Tenie? Where, b-baby?”

Ten can’t answer, voice spent, but he manages to hook his leg around Taeyong’s waist and pull him in again, locking them together, and the alpha falls apart, pumping him full of his seed, thrusting shallowly to bring them both down from the sensitivity.

By the time he’s regained his senses and feeling of his body, Taeyong’s already performing aftercare. Warm hand towel dabbing away Johnny’s sweat, tender kisses being pressed to his hands. “He’s back,” the omega murmurs with a teasing smile.

Ten snorts and lets his head fall back against a pillow as Taeyong nears, gentle knobby hands to the rescue, and his cock somehow still semi-hard and swaying between his thighs. He cleans the drool from his chin and then reaches between his legs, cleaning up as much of their cum as he can. There’s a lot more dripping from his ass than there is on his stomach though.

“How aren’t you married already?” Ten asks, voice raspy, spent, when he comes back with another towel to clean them both.

Taeyong just smiles, shrugs, “Didn’t feel like the right timing.”

“Think we’re closer to that goal now though,” Johnny adds, tone genuine, meeting his eyes.

“Maybe,” Ten smirks, holding Johnny’s hand, winking at the alpha when he catches his gaze.

Taeyong blushes, cleaning up the rest of the bedroom, the used condoms, the body oil, somehow suddenly shy even though he just fucked them both within an inch of their lives.

They have samgyeopsal and steak that night, courtesy of Taeyong and Johnny and their bottomless meat freezer. Afterward, Taeyong takes them on the couch, in front of the fireplace, on the kitchen counters, in the shower, in the hot tub, in the hallway, tag-teaming and tired by the time the sun comes up again and they all finally fall asleep.

It takes four days of this routine to reduce the flames of Taeyong’s rut to embers. The moments interspersed with the trio sharing food, water, checking on each other. They work together surprisingly well.

On the fifth day, they’re all laying in bed, curtains over the windows drawn back, more midday grey sky out there. Johnny’s purring in his sleep, large frame taking up half the bed, while Ten and Taeyong curl up together in the remaining space. They’re pressed back to chest, Taeyong rumbling while he presses tender kisses all along Ten’s shoulders. It feels right. Their scents have amalgamated in this bedroom—pine, citrus, rain.

His body aches with the thorough loving Taeyong’s put him through, but he’s oh-so happy. Taeyong hugs him closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He was already muscly before, albeit a bit stringy from overworking, but his rut has made his body fill out even more so he’s more brawny than anything, makes him feel secure in his hold.

“Tenie,” he mumbles between kisses.

“Mm?” Ten purrs, nuzzling his nose to his wrist, scenting him in return.

“Thank you… for being here and… giving this a chance.”

“You say jump, I say how high?”

He feels the smile Taeyong presses to the back of his ear, nuzzling away, “I love you, Tenie… so much.”

“Is that you or your rut speaking?” Ten says, more to tease than anything.

But Taeyong tugs on his shoulder till he turns around to face him. That rut haze is gone from his inkwell eyes, replaced by a clarity, a sparkle, a special sign just for them. His hand comes up to cup his cheek, Ten’s purring gets louder, nuzzling into his palm. “How do you feel?”

“Happy. Glad I used my leave for this.”

Taeyong smiles, grabs his hand to kiss the knuckles reverently. “Still upset with me?”

“You’re forgiven,” Ten blushes.

They laze around a while, napping. Getting up only for snacks. When night falls yet again, the scene is all too domestic, as if this isn’t their first cycle leave together. Johnny’s hooking up his computer to the tv to watch a movie. Ten’s cuddled into Taeyong’s side, a bowl of popcorn on the alpha’s lap and his arm around his shoulders. 

They’re all the three of them purring, content. And Ten isn’t connected to them yet, sans bond mark, but somehow, he can feel the vestiges of it. The longing, the bone deep need to be inseparable from them.

It quiets when Johnny dims the lights and sits next to him, a tug of war for the blanket ensues. It still feels right. 

On the sixth day, when they’re making lunch (which is just Taeyong cooking while they watch and wait for a taste of anything he’ll offer them), Ten’s impatient with his longing. He wants to ask them, wants— wants.

And, when he thinks about it, Kun was right. It’d be crazy to have to make such a life-altering decision in a week. But Ten, Taeyong, Johnny, they have history. Over a decade of history. They know each other, grew up together, faced the same adversities and prospered. So, he thinks about how to bring it up. He’s still thinking when Johnny pulls him into making a nest together on their bed with all of their clothes. He’s still thinking when he rides Taeyong in the hot tub with snow falling around them and steam rising off their bodies and the water alike.

Until Johnny finally brings it up. “I think you’d look pretty with a mark here,” he says, trailing a finger against the side of his neck. “What do you think, Yongie?”

Taeyong blushes, mumbles something neither of them catch.

Cuddled up between them in their nest and fresh out of a hot shower, his confidence gets the better of him. He grabs the alpha’s hand, leads it to his inner thigh, right about where Johnny’s is, “I think here is fine.”

Taeyong turns impossibly red and Johnny gasps, “I’m not biting you there!”

“Hyung,” Ten gestures at his neck.

“Oh… ok,” the omega grins and pats his shoulder. Ten turns onto his side, back to Johnny. He feels a feather-light kiss on his nape and then his teeth sink in and the vestiges snap, making way for the soul-binding mark. He thought it would sting, but one moment, his body, experience, feelings are singular, and then they’re more. His heart is fuller, feeling more—Johnny’s feelings towards him, towards Taeyong—and then, a little fainter, but present: Taeyong and his essence.

Johnny licks the bite clean and Ten can feel the tenderness in his chest as if it were his own. He does the same to the omega, laying claim to his nape, and the everything of it intensifies yet again.

Taeyong’s watching them with wide, teary eyes. No doubt feeling every bit of what he’s feeling. Ten smiles, cups his cheek to lean close and kiss him softly. “Your turn, hyung.”

Johnny reaches, wipes the tears from his eyes. Taeyong purrs, kisses his wrist, but rises to his knees, scooting down. Ten helps him, shimmies out of his sleep shorts. His heart quickens with anticipation and Johnny pets his long hair back and away from his forehead, kissing his temple and his cheek, purring to calm him, while Taeyong maps a trail down starting from his navel, tender kiss after tender kiss, down.

He feels Taeyong’s breath on the inside of his thigh, feels him at the edges of his bond with Johnny, anticipation, worry, happiness, love—though it’s always been there.

“Ready?” The alpha asks at a whisper.

“Yeah,” Ten breathes. And it feels just right, just like he knew it would.

They’re still sensitive to their new bond when they get back home, when they return to rehearsing for their concert, when their packmates sense the change in their demeanors, their scents, when they eventually tease their pack alpha for the twin bites on his nape. But they’re together and they’re better for it. 

And when February comes around, and it’s time to drop his first album, he makes sure to dedicate every loving word to his mates.